15 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Gophers

Have you been noticing an increase in gophers around your property lately? If so, you may be wondering how to deal with them naturally.

Gophers can damage your yard and garden through their digging [1]. Unlike moles, gophers feed on roots and plants, which can seriously damage gardens.

Gophers leave crescent- or fan-shaped soil mounds, while moles typically create volcano-shaped mounds.

While many hire gopher removal experts, there are home remedies that can work just as well.

How to Get Rid of Gophers Naturally

Pocket gophers can be stubborn garden pests, but there are many ways to control them without killing them. Below are some natural remedies that may help:

1. Castor Oil

Castor oil may help repel gophers by creating an unpleasant smell and taste in the soil, helping you keep these critters out of your garden and backyard.

There are a few ways to use it. One method is to mix ¼ cup of castor oil with 1 tablespoon of dish soap in 1 gallon of water, then pour it into the gopher hole.

Another is to put the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it around the problem areas.

Finally, you can add some Tabasco sauce; this time, the recipe is ½ cup of castor oil, 1 cup of water, 1 tsp of Tabasco sauce, and a few drops of peppermint oil.

Mix all the ingredients, and then soak some cotton balls in the mixture. Afterward, place the soaked cotton balls in gopher holes.

This DIY remedy may also help deter ground moles.

2. Repellent Plants

There are also several plants that you can use as a repellent to keep gophers away. Some gardeners report that strongly scented plants may help discourage gophers.

Repellent plants include lavender, eucalyptus, marigolds, and rosemary bushes. You can plant them around your yard.

3. Flood Gopher Holes

Flooding tunnels may encourage some gophers to temporarily leave an area, though it is often ineffective for large tunnel systems. This method works by flooding the tunnels with water, causing the animals to abandon them.

To do this, locate the gopher hole and then use a high-pressure garden hose or pour buckets of water into it.

Once you have filled the tunnel with enough water, leave the area immediately to allow the gopher to escape. However, excessive flooding can damage soil structure and plant roots.

4. Underground Fencing

Installing underground fencing is a DIY method to protect your raised beds from burrowing animals.

The fence should be installed at least 2 feet below ground level and buried in the garden bed. Additionally, the fencing material should be heavy-duty, so consider using hardware cloth.

5. Gopher Baskets

Gopher baskets are wire cages placed around the plants or crops you want to protect. These wire cages help protect the roots from gophers and other burrowing rodents.

6. Ultrasonic Repellents

Ultrasonic repellents may help temporarily deter some rodents, though results are mixed.

Place the device in areas where gopher activity is most noticeable.

7. Traps

Trapping is one of the most reliable methods for controlling gophers. Some traps are lethal, while others are designed for live capture and relocation (where legal).

Trapping gophers is a non-toxic way to remove them from your yard. However, check local laws before recommending relocation because relocating wildlife is illegal in some areas.

The spring and fall are the best times to set the trap. 

8. Garlic Stakes

Some gardeners use garlic stakes or crushed garlic in tunnels to help discourage gophers.

The idea is that when gophers encounter the garlic scent, they may avoid the area. The smell of garlic can be unpleasant, so they’ll think twice about entering your property again.

Plus, this method does not require toxic chemicals, gasoline, or traps that could harm other animals or creatures in your area.

9. Peppermint Oil

Applying peppermint oil around gophers’ entry locations may help repel them. You can apply the solution with rags, sponges, and even a few cotton balls.

You can also mix peppermint oil with water to create a homemade gopher-repellent spray. Apply it in and around your garden.

This solution will create an unpleasant environment that these burrowing rodents dislike.

Its scent may even deter other pests from visiting your garden, making it worth considering.

10. Dogs and Cats

Believe it or not, dogs and cats can help deter gophers. While not all cats and dogs will chase gophers, their presence may help deter gophers from entering the area.

If you have a barking dog or an outdoor-friendly cat, consider leaving them in the garden for a few hours. 

11. Barn Owls

There’s one old-fashioned way that you may not have considered: barn owls.

Barn owls are predators of rodents, and they particularly enjoy eating gophers [2]. You can attract these owls by putting up a nesting box for them.

However, attracting owls alone may not fully solve a serious gopher infestation.

12. Predator Urine

Predator scents may help make gophers feel unsafe.

Commercial repellents containing fox or coyote urine are commonly used around gardens and lawns. Apply them near active tunnels, following the package instructions.

This method may work best when combined with fencing or castor oil treatments.

13. Gravel or Sharp Mulch Barriers

Gophers prefer digging through loose soil. So, adding rough materials around plants may make tunneling more difficult.

Try placing coarse gravel, lava rock, or sharp-edged mulch around vulnerable plants or along raised bed borders.

14. Victor Mole & Gopher Repellent

This product works because of its main ingredient, castor oil. Castor oil-based repellents may help make treated areas less attractive to gophers.

15. Holy Moley

This repellent may help drive burrowing animals, such as gophers, away from your yard. Holy Moley is made with castor oil and Fuller’s Earth.

The strong scent and taste of this product may help discourage gophers. They may also experience stomach discomfort if they ingest it.

Moreover, Holy Moley does not contain poison or pesticides. When used as directed, the product is generally considered safe around pets and people.

Preventing Future Gopher Problems

• Remove excess weeds and overgrown vegetation.
• Harvest root crops promptly.
• Use raised beds with hardware cloth bottoms.
• Regularly inspect for fresh mounds.

Takeaway

So, there you have it—a few natural remedies to get rid of gophers. Results can vary depending on the severity of the infestation and the method used.

Because gophers spend most of their lives underground, controlling them often requires patience and a combination of methods. If you’re having trouble using these methods, don’t be afraid to call in a professional.

Photo by David A. Hofmann on Flickr, used under a Creative Commons license.